Virkon S: The powerful disinfectant solution for all your equine hygiene needs
Lanxess and their team of technical experts will guide British Dressage and provide members with information to help their education and knowledge on equestrian virus’s and diseases and how effective Biosecurity solutions can prevent these from harming horses. Lanxess manufacture Virkon S, an effective disinfectant that kills common equine pathogen and diseases.
How Equine Diseases are spread?
One of the greatest disease threats to a horse is from another horse, whether through direct contact or through surfaces, equipment, vehicles or people contaminated by diseased animals. Vaccination is important; medication can be used once the horse or pony is seen to be sick, but neither can offer complete, effective and economical protection against the wide range of disease-causing organisms that threaten horses.
Virkon® S is the ultimate equine disinfectant independently proven to be effective against viral, bacterial and fungal organisms which can cause disease in horses.
How to control the spread of equine diseases
Stable Blocks
- Remove all moveable equipment (feeders, drinkers, etc)
- Remove all organic material (mud, soiled bedding and refuse) through scraping and brushing
- Using either a pressure washer, knapsack sprayer or watering can, disinfect all surfaces with Virkon® S solution (1:100 dilution rate)
- Allow surfaces to dry before replenishing bedding and replacing equipment
Feeders, Drinkers, Tack and other Equipment
- Wash drinkers, feeders, tack and other equipment with Virkon® S solution (1:100 dilution rate)
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and then allow to dry
Horsebox Disinfection
To help prevent the spread of disease via transportation:
- Remove all organic material (mud, soiled bedding and refuse) from inside the horsebox and from around the wheels, wheel arches, mudguards and exposed chassis of the trailer using a stiff brush or pressure washer where necessary.
- Working from the outside in, and from top to bottom, disinfect all surfaces using either a pressure washer, knapsack .sprayer or watering can. Use Virkon® S at a dilution rate of 1:100, leave ten minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Aerial Disinfection
Stable dust and airborne nasal discharges can transmit infection from horse to horse. Virkon® S can be used as an aerial disinfection spray to help control airborne disease-causing organisms. Using a knapsack sprayer or pressure washer, on a low pressure setting, spray Virkon® S solution (1:200 dilution rate) into the stable on a daily basis. There is no need to remove the horses whilst disinfecting the air.
Topical use
Virkon® S can be used as a skin disinfectant (on intact/ healthy skin). Washing your horse with Virkon® S at a dilution rate of 1:100 can reduce the skin challenge of the organisms that are responsible for Ringworm, Mud Fever and Strangles. Use a clean sponge or cloth to apply the Virkon® S solution to the coat of the horse, ensure that solution is kept out of the animal’s eyes, ears and respiratory tracts. Leave for ten minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Stable Blocks
- Horse Blocks and Vehicles
- Equipment and Tack
- Feeders and Drinkers
List of equine pathogens covered by Virkon® S
| Bacteria | Dilution | Disease (example) |
| Clostridium perfringens | 1:100 | Enterotoxemia |
| Clostridium perfringens | 1:100 | |
| Dermatophilus congolensis | 1:50 | Dermatophilosis |
| Escherichia coli | 1:100 | UT infection enteric colibacillosis, septicaemia |
| Escherichia coli | 1:100 | |
| Escherichia coli | 1:400 | |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 1:100 | UT infection |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 1:100 | |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 1:100 | |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1:100 | Endometriosis, genital tract infection |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1:200 | |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1:400 | |
| Salmonella typhimurium | 1:100 | |
| Salmonella enterica | 1:400 | |
| Salmonella enterica | 1:200 | |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1:100 | Botryomycosis |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1:400 | |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1:100 | |
| Streptococcus equi | 1:100 | Strangles |
| Streptococcus equi | 1:100 | |
| Taylorella (Haemophilus) equigenitalis | 1:400 | Contagious equine metritis |
| Taylorella (Haemophilus) equigenitalis | 1:400 | |
| n Taylorella (Haemophilus) equigenitalis | 1:400 | |
| Taylorella (Haemophilus) equigenitalis | 1:100 | |
| Taylorella (Haemophilus) equigenitalis | 1:100 |
| Fungi & Yeast | Dilution | Disease (example) |
| Candida albicans | 1:100 | Uterine infections |
| Candida albicans | 1:67 | |
| Candida albicans | 1:200 | |
| Microsporum canis | 1:6400 | Ringworm (surrogate study) |
| Trichophyton mentagrophytes | 1:300 | dermatophytosis |
| Trichophyton mentagrophytes | 1:50 | dermatophytosis |
| Viruses | Dilution | Disease (example) |
| Avian Adenovirus type 2 | 1:200 | Respiratory disease (surrogate study) |
| Equine arteritis virus | 1:350 | Viral arteritis |
| Equine arteritis virus | 1:100 | Viral arteritis |
| Equid herpes virus 3 | 1:100 | Coital exanthema |
| Equid herpes virus 1 | 1:100 | Viral pneumonitis |
| Equine influenza virus | 1:100 | Equine influenza |
| Bovine polyoma virus | 1:100 | Papillomatosis (surrogate study) |
| orthopox virus (vaccine strain), Vaccinia | 1:100 | smallpox vaccine (surrogate study) |
| Avian reovirus | 1:100 | African Horse sickness (surrogate study) |
| Avian leucosis virus | 1:200 | Equine infectious anaemia (surrogate study) |
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